The ongoing debate about electric cars, which typically focuses on their range, cost and practicality, is heating up again thanks to the news that, of an expected 8,600, only 534 people have signed up for the government's electric car subsidy. As you say: "The government's hoped-for electric car revolution ... is getting off to a slow start" (Electric car scheme lacks spark, 29 April).

Your article correctly points out that the cost of a typical electric car is offset by the fact that they "pay no vehicle excise duty, have cheaper insurance premiums, are exempt from London's congestion charge and can be charged for free at some public car parks".

It's the last part of this statement that needs a fanfare. You can indeed charge your electric car at locations beyond your front drive. Often frustratingly for the electric vehicle (EV) industry, the arguments about electric cars for domestic use rarely look at how owners can be supported with the right infrastructure.

Developments in charging technology have made it quicker and more efficient for drivers to charge both parked and moving cars. As a geographically small country, the UK has closely connected towns and cities and, as a result, relatively few charge points are needed to reach most of the population.

The range of an electric car can be significantly increased by providing quick "top-up" charging points. This is better for an electric car's battery too, as its lifespan is lengthened by regular top-ups, rather than deep cycling. As the battery contributes heavily towards the average EV's overall cost, protecting a buyer's investment is perhaps more crucial than paying part of the upfront purchase price.

The online comments underneath the original article clearly show that EV range is a big issue for potential buyers. Tackling this with what we call "opportunistic charging" – giving drivers the chance of quick boost charges during their journeys – is reassuring but also practical. With wireless charging, drivers don't even need to get out the car and plug in a cable, so a trip to the station to pick up a friend could include a 10-minute charge in the station's waiting bay.

In future, motorways lined with charging pads could create "e-ways", which allow EVs to pick up charge on the move. There is already an embryonic version of this in practice – in Italy some electric buses are charged at each stop in short bursts. From this to a wider infrastructure supporting domestic vehicles is possible. As the article points out, "there is likely to be a sales surge as more of the nine cars that qualify for the grant come on to the market in the coming months", yet this extra choice for consumers has not been translated into a rush for subsidies. No matter how good the model, without the infrastructure to support regular, practical use, drivers will fail to see how an electric car can be a seamless part of their daily lives.

But if the UK uses its natural advantages to best effect, its infrastructure – not subsidies alone – may be the answer industry and buyers alike need.